Rotary-engine.



PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

A. GUINDON.v

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1903.

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ri/ur uz'izdoi v, Inventor Attorneys Witnesses:

PATENTED APR. 19, .1904.

A. GUINDON. ROTARY ENGINE. AIE'PLIOATION FILED AUG 10, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Ms. msw w kw www Witnesses Attorneys PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

A. GUINDON.

ROTARY ENGINE. I APPLIOATIONFILED AUG. 10, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

Attorneys.

Witnesses:

' PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

Ref-4757,4551,

A. GUINDON. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10, 1903.

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Attorneys PATENTBD APR. 19, l904.

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PATENT @rrrcn.

ARTHUR GUINDON, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,455, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed August 10, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GUINDON, residing in the city and district of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improveinents in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to rotary engines,- and especially to that-type which comprises in its construction a drum which is eccentrically mounted within the cylinder and provided with substantially radially-movable members carrying shoes which rest against the cylinder-wall; While the invention may be applied to the general type of engines referred to, it is expected to be especially useful in connection with duplex or double engines of this general type, wherein two cylinders are oppositely-placed cylinders. The drums Withthe same.

in the cylinders are eccentric with respect to The cylinder-walls are constructed with the special object of reducing the friction of the shoes, which are carried by the pistons and rotate with the same. The main head contains the principal steam-ports, and the valve arrangement contemplates the use of a separate valve in conjunction with each cylinder. The valves are of the rotary type and are driven continuously in one direction. Each valve is composed of an outer and an inner member having normally coincident ports, and. arrangement is made whereby a governor may operate to change the relative position of the ports of these members, so as Seria1 No.l68,913. (Nomodeh) to change the width of the port opening through the valve automatically. The inner walls of the cylinders comprise a plurality of longitudinally-disposed rollers which are rotated by the piston-shoes as they pass.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims. v

In the drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical central section. Fig. 2. is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view representing one side of the main head looking in the same direction as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line {i 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through one of the piston-drums and the piston. Fig. 6 represents a portion of the piston-drum, the view being a section supposed to have been taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective of the shaft and piston-drums, representing the pistons as having been removed. Fig. 8 is a perspective of one of the pistons. Fig. 9 represents in plan a portion of one piston adjacent to one of the shoes, illustrating the manner of applying certainv packing-strips. This view represents parts adjacent tothe packing-strips in section. Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on the line 10 10 of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a perspective of certain plates used in conjunction with the pistons and adapted to carry certain friction-rollers. Fig. 12 is a perspective of the-body or main part of one of the pistons. Fig. 13 represents in perspective a pallet, two of which are used in conjunction with the body shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is also a perspective showing the side of this pallet opposite to that side which is shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a perspective of a ring, four of which are used in constructing the engine. Fig. '16 is a longitudinal sectionthrough one of the valves, this View being upon a much enlarged scale, as will appear. Fig. 17 is a cross-section of one of the valves, representingagovernor which constitutes a part of the valve mechanism. Fig. 18 is an end elevation showing especially the arrangement of this governor. Fig. '19 is a pei'spective showing the inner member of the va ve.

Throughout the drawings and specification the same numerals of reference denote like parts.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the main head of the engine, which is of substantially circular outline and presenting opposite faces 2 and 3, upon which are respectively attached the cylinders 4 and 5, the same being formed, preferably, in conjunction with suitable bases or pedestals 6. The said cylinders 4 and 5 are provided with covers or outer heads 7 and 8, respectively, which heads conform substantially to the outline of their respective cylinders and are provided with alining' openings 9, in which openings a shaft 10 is rotatably mounted, the same passing through the central opening 11, provided in the aforesaid main head 1, as shown. The inner faces 12 of the heads 7 and 8 are provided with rings 13, which are countersunk into the same, as shown, and eccentrically placed with respect to the shaft 10. Op-' posite to these rings 13 similar rings 14 are provided, which are, however, attachedto the faces 2 and 3 of the main head 1. The construction of these rings is most clearlyshown in Fig. 15. Each ring consists of a flat annular member provided with a plurality of circumferentially-disposed openings 15 which are preferably spaced an equal distance apart, as indicated. Opposite these openings 15, the inner edge 16 of each ring is provided with a plurality of recesses or notches 17. It shouldbe understood that in assembling the parts the openings 15 and the notches 17 of one of the rings 13 would be placed in alinement with corresponding openings and notches of the corresponding ring 14, this arrangement being adopted for the purpose of mounting a plurality of longitudinally disposed main rollers 18,.the same being carried upon spindles 19, which spindles are received by the aforesaid openings 15. The notches 17 aforesaid receive the gudgeons or fins 20, which project from the extremities of longitudinally-disposed keepers 21, there being one of these keepers in conjunction with each of the main rollers 18. It shouldbe understood that these keepers extend longitudinally from end to end of the cylinder in the same manner as each roller, and their inner faces are of concave shape,as shown, conforming to the lateral surface of the rollers, as indicated. The side faces 22 of these keepers are of concave form, as indicated,and between the keepers there are rotatably mounted a plurality of inner rollers 23, which extend continuously from end to end of the cylinders and abut against the heads thereof, as will be readily understood. In order to facilitate the mounting of the main rollers 18, the walls of the cylinders are provided with a plurality of longitudinally-dis posed recesses or notches 24, into which the sides of the rollers project; but it should be understood that the faces of the rollers do not contact with the sides of the notches, so that this arrangement inno way restricts the free rotation of the rollers. In the heads 1, '7, and 8 there are provided inlet-ports 25 and exhaust-ports 26, preferably of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The interior or bore of the cylinder is recessed longitudinally to receive an abutment-plate 27, the inner edge whereof is slightly concaved and normally rests 'adjacent to the face of the piston-drum in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter. At the edge this abutment-plate 27 is of increased width, as shown, so that its lateral faces conform substantially to the surfaces of the adjacent rollers 22, which constitute two of the inner rollers 22, already described. In this manner the abutment-plate operates in the samemanner as the aforesaid keepers 21 to assist in retaining the inner rollers in position. Arrangement is made for adjusting the abutment-plate with respect to the face of the piston-drum, which arrangement consists in providing a stem 28, which is attached to the abutment-plate and carries a cross-head operating in conjunction with threaded studs 29 and nuts 30, mounted thereupon,affording means of adjustment, as will be readily understood. In order to prevent steam passing the abutments, one of the main rollers 18, which is indicated by the numeral 18, is provided with a packing-strip 31, carried in a longitudinally-disposed recess 32 in the cylinder wall, behind which packing strip springs 32 are provided, which constrain the concave inner face of the packing-strip against the roller, as will be readily understood. The manner in which this construction prevents the passage of the steam past the abutmentplate 27 will appear more fully hereinafter.

As indicated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the main head 1 is surmounted by a cap-plate 34, in which the inlet-pipe 35 and exhaustpipe 35 are attached. The inlet-pipe 35 communicates' with an inlet-passage 36, formed within the main head, as indicated, and this inlet-passage is formed of branches 36 and 36", which are adapted to open communication respectively with the cylinders 4 and 5. To this end the branch 36 terminates in an opening 37 upon the face 3 of the main head, while the branch 36" terminates in an opening 38 upon the face 2 of the main head. As indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, the cylinders are? provided, respectively, with steam-chests 39, which communicate with the openings 37 and 38, as will be readily understood. Each valve-chest consists of a cylindrical chamber or bore 40, disposed horizontally and transversely with respect to the, axis of the cylinder, and within this bore there is mounted a rotary valve 41, having ports 42, which may with one of the aforesaid inlet-ports L connection withthe description of the ports Inerals 43 and 43 and these portsare separabbeted, so as to provide depressed faces 54 communicate through passages 39 with corresponding ports 43, which are formed in the heads, and each of these ports communicates In 43 it should be stated that there are two of them, (indicated, respectively, by the nurated and remain separated throughout their entire length, the port 43 havingits corresponding port 25 and the-port43 having its corresponding port 25", the said ports 25and 25 constituting together one of the aforesaid inlet-ports 25. This arrangement is adopted for the purpose of facilitating an economic steamdistribution, as will appear more fully hereinafter, and affords means also forprovi'ding a bridge 44 across the port 25, which facilitates the passing of the shoe carried by the piston in a manner which will appear more fiilly hereinafter.

"The exhaust-ports .26 aforesaid communicate with passages 45, which open out upon the faces of the heads, as shown. As indicated most clearly in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the passages 45 communicate with the passages 46 and 46 which extend longitudinally in the cylinder-wall, as shown, and communicate with the exhaust-pipe 35. A transverse passage 47 in the outer head, which communicates with the passage 48, is very similar to the passage 46 aforesaid, and it conducts the exhaust-steam from the port,47 back to the main head, so that the steam may enter the main head through the ports 49, which last ports are in communication with the exhaustpipe 35, as shown.

, As indicated most clearly in Fig. 7, the shaft 10 is formed integrally with a pair of oppositely-disposed drums 50, the said shaft adjacent to the said drums being of enlarged diameter and cut-away to form fiat alining faces 51, as indicated. As shown, the drums 50 are disposed slightly apart, so that the shaft could be mounted in the engine with the drums occupying their corresponding cylinders. In a directidn at right angles to the faces 51 the central portion of each of the drums 50 is removed, so that an opening 52 is formed passing diametrically through each drum, and the end faces 53 of the drums are and transversely-disposed shoulders 55, disposed substantially parallel with the axial plane of the openings 52. In forming the openings 52 fiat tranverse faces 51 are formed, which constitute guides for the sides of the piston in a manner which will appear more fully hereinafter. At their central portion the aforesaid openings comprise oppositelydisposed enlarged recesses or chambers 56, and at either side of these enlarged recesses or chambers 56 longitudina-lly-disposed' grooves 57 are formed in the opposite faces of the openings 52, and beyond these grooves, at the part where the openings 52 emerge upon 'tne lateral surfaces of the drums, rabbeted edges 58 are formed, as shown. Within the openings or spaces 52 pistons 59 are mounted; and one of these pistons will now be described.

Referring especially to Figs. 5 and 8, the piston 59 comprises a pair of oppositely-disposed main plates 60, the construction of one of which is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 12, where it should appear that it comprises a body 61, which is of increased thickness near one extremity, constituting a head 67 This -head 67 is provided with a transverse'channel 62 and a transverse groove 63 beyond the same. It may be stated at this point that the channel 62 is intended to retain certain rollers '64, used in conjunction with the piston, while .the groove 63 is adapted to receive a packing-strip 65, in conjunction with which packing-strip springs 66 are employed, the same thrusting against the bottom of the aforesaid groove 63, as indicated in Fig. 5. The extremity of the plate remote from the head 67 is of reduced thickness, as shown, so as to form a flat tail-plate 68, the lower edge 69 whereof is preferably beveled, as'shown, to correspond with a similar bevel 70, formed at the upper edge of the head 67. At its upper extremity the aforesaid head 67 is formed into a transversely-disposed head 71, which is of substantially cylindrical form and constitutes an incomplete roller or wrist. Below the head 67 the edges 72 of the body 61 are provided with rabbets or notches 73, which constitute extensions of channels or grooves 74, which grooves are formed inthe opposite faces of the head 67, as will be readily understood. The grooves 74, in conjuction with their extensions 73, are respectively adapted to receive tongues 75, which are longitudinally disposed upon side pallets 76. In their construction these pallets are,identical, excepting that one is right-handed and the other left-handed. It should be understood that they are adapted to be attached to the opposite sides of the head 67, the tongue 75 of ,ach being received by the channel 7 4, as suggested. At their upper portions these pallets 76 are formed with centrally-disposed lobes or ears 77, which are of substantially the same form as the wrist or bead 71 and are adapted to lie over the extremities of the same in the manner indicated in Fig. 12; When applied to the heads in this manner, the pallets are permanently attached by means of screws 7 8", which are received in threaded openings 79 in the side faces of the head 67. As indicated, the pallets 76 project laterally on each side of .the wrist 71 substantially an equal amount.

The outer faces of the pallets are provided with longitudinally-disposed packing-grooves 78, and it should be stated that those edges 79 of the pallets which are disposed toward the rear with respect .to the direction of rotation pass in a curve of large radius at eighty degrees to a point near the lobe 77. On the opposite sides the edges 81 continue substantially straight for a greater length, as indicated. Upon the wrist 71 there is mounted a shoe 82, which shoe is preferably substantially of the form shdwn, comprising an outer face '83, which is finished upon the same are or radius as the interior of the cylinder. This shoe is formed with a socket 84, adapted to receive the aforesaid Wrist -71 and the lobes 7 7 of the pallets. The distance between the end faces of this shoe is substantially the same as the distance between the outer faces of the pallets when they have been applied to. the body 61, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8. It should be understood that the manner of attaching the shoe permits a perfectly free movement of the same upon the axis of the wrist 71, so that the shoe may accommodate itself to the varying relative direction of the cylinder-wall. The assembled piston 59, as represented in Fig. 8,would be applied within the transverse opening 52 of the drum. so that the outer faces of the pallets would rest upon the aforesaid guide-faces 51. There are two of the shoes 82 and two of the main plates 60 used in con-nection with each piston and drum. In applying these main plates within the drum they are disposed in opposite relation to each other, so that the tail-plate of the one Willlie substantially opposite to the head of the other, as indicated in Fig. 5, the aforesaid packing-strips 65 enabling a tight joint to be made therebetween and permitting perfect freedom of movement of the parts longitudinally with respect to each other. This movement is also facilitated by the rollers 64, which have been already described, the same being received in the channels 62 and rolling upon the tail-plates. The proportion of these rollers with respect to the width of the channels 62 should be such as to allow all the necessary extension and retraction of the piston-plates without bringing about a slipping or sliding at the points of contact of the rollers. In other Words, the arrangement is such that the motion of the rollers is always a rolling motion. The outer sides of the tail-plates 68 are packed by means of packing-strips 85, which are carried in the aforesaid grooves 57 of the drums, and these.

packing-strips are constrained toward the tailplates by'suitable springs 86, carried in alining openings or recesses 87 There are of course four of the packing-strips 85 in conjunction with each piston. The construction of one of these strips is most clearly shown in Figs. 6, 9, and 10. Each strip consists of a body 85 and end pieces 85", which are disposed adjacent to the pallets and form scarfed joints 88 with the body 85, as shown. The abutting longitudinal faces of these scarfed joints are gouged out and at these points cooperate to form cylindrical chambers or recesses 89, adapted to receive small spiral springs 90, which springs constrain theend "IfeQASB pieces 85" outwardly. The edges of the pallets 76 overhang the packing-grooves 57 as shown in Fig. 6, and the outer faces of the end pieces 85 are provided with rabbets or notches 91, which receive the edges of the pallets, as shown, the outer faces of the said end pieces 85 being flush with the outer faces of the pallets and the end faces 53 of the drums. While-the width of the end members 85", as viewed in Fig. 9, is substantially the same as the width of the body 85, the height of these end members 85", as viewed in Fig. 6, is much greater than thebody 85", and they project laterally, lying upon the depressed faces 54:, so that their faces remote from the-pallets lie adjacent to the aforesaid shoulders 55 of a drums. Near the periphery of the drums these shoulders 55 are provided with rec-waxes 92, which cooperate with recesses 93 i receive springs 94., the said recesses 93 being formed in the face of r the end members 85', the arrangement being such as to enable the springs 94 to constrain the end pieces 85 toward the edges of the pallets. From this arrangement it should appear that the pistons 59 are well packed from side to side between the pallets 76.

In the enlarged recesses 56 roller-plates 95 are received. The construction of one of these plates is most clearly shown in Fig. 11. Each plate consists, preferably, of a body 96 and a face-plate 97, the latter of which is formed with a plurality of longitudinally-disposed openings 98, adapted to receive rollers 99, there being one of the rollers 99 used in connection with each of the openings 98, and, as indicated, these openings are preferably disposed in two sets. The rollers are disposed in such a manner that they will roll from one end to the other of the channels or openings with each extending. or retraction of the piston, as will be readily understood. Behind these roller-plates 95 packing-plates 100 are placed,

and, as shown, these packing-plates, together with the roller-plates 95,conform substantially to the dimensions of the recesses 56, so that these parts are held nicely in position after having been assembled, as will be readily understood. The rollerplates are of course disposed so that the channels or openings98 have the same direction in which the main plates of the piston are adapted to move, so

that when the piston extends itself during rotation the rollers 99 facilitate the movement and reduce the friction to a minimum. It should be stated that all the'rollers used in conjunction with the piston would be of the best hardened steel, and the members upon which these rollers roll would also be of hardened material adapted to reduce the wear and prevent injury tothe cooperating surfaces. The packing-strips of course would be of brass or similar soft material adapted to afford a substantial packing with little friction. As wear takes place between the roller- I plates additional packing-plates could be used,

so asto adjusjtthe rollers to the proper posi-' tion, as will be readily understood.

It should be stated in connection with Fig. 1 that the piston which is represented within the-cylinder 5 is in central section In the cylinder 4 the slidable piston is represented as removed, and the roller-plate is represented as exposed by the removal of the piston. The rollers 99 are represented as occupying the central portions of their corre-,

sponding openings. s

It should be understood that the direction of rotation of the shaft is the same as that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. As a considerable angular movement of the piston takes place as the shoe is passing the inletport 25, unless some provision is made to meet the dificulty it would be of course impossible to allow this port to admit steam till the shoe had passed. This, of course, is evi- -dent, as otherwise steam would be. admitted cated by the arrow shown near the same in i did take place the result might be disastrous Fig. 2,"the arrangement described would operate to open the port 25 before the port 25", so that before the piston arrived at the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 steam would have already been admitted throi gh the port 25 and will be exerting'itself to accelerate the movement of the piston. While the presence of the bridge 44 operates advantageously --in the manner just described, it is also useful in preventing the possibility of any lateral movement of the shoe which might take place where the port is of greater width than the shoe, and evidently if such a lateral movement when the forward edge of the shoe came into contact with the rear edge of the steam-port. On account. of these considerations the exhaust-port 26 is provided with bridges 101, -which likewise afford means for preventing the lateral movement of the shoe.

the surface of the drum operates to prevent the escape of steam past the abutment-plate 27; but in order to prevent the passing of steam at the rear the packing-strip 31 is provided, in conjunction with the roller 18, the arrangement in this connection having been already fully described.

The construction of the valve will now be and 42 are formed.

described. The body 41 of this valve comprises an outer sleeve 102 and an inner sleeve 103, the latter of which fits nicely within the former, these parts being of cylindrical form, as shown. Through the lateral walls of these sleeves 102 and 103 the ports or openings 42 While the respective openings through the sleeves normally coincide to form these ports 42 and 42", it should be understood that a relative rotary movement of the sleeves is possible, which has the effect of restricting the peripheral width of these ports. In order to enable such a mode of operation, the inner sleeve 103 is provided with laterally-projecting stops 104 105, which extend continuously throughout the length of their corresponding port-sections, as shown. The edges of the ports of the outer section abut against the sides of these stops, so that the stops prevent the relative rotation of the sleeves except in one direction. The outer .sleeve 102 is carried upon a hollow'shaft 106,

within which hollow shaft there is rotatably mounted an inner shaft 107, which is rigid with the inner sleeve 103. The outer shaft 106 carries rigidly a governor-disk 108, upon the face of which governor-arms 109 are pivoted, the same being formed with weights 110 at their extremities. These arms 109 of course tend to fly outwardly by reason of the centrifugal force due to rotation and are constrained inwardly by the oppositely-disposed springs 111, the inner extremities whereof attach to pins 112, fixed in the face of the disk. The inner shaft 107 carries rigidly a yoke 113, having opposite extensions, to the extremities whereof links 114 are at tached, the said links connecting at their outer extremities to the aforesaid weightarms 10%. The inner shaft 107 being driven continuously from some of the moving parts of the machine operates, of course, to rotate the valve, and when the engine is starting up the ports would of course present substantially the openings represented in Fig. 17. When the normal number of revolutions per minute has been attained bythe engine, the weight 11.0 will have been moved out by the centrifugal force operating to effect a slight angular advance of the cutting-off edges 115 of the outer sle e of the valve, as will be readily understood. Under these circumstances if a load were suddenly thrown off the increased centrifugal "force would operate to bring abouta quicker cut-off. for the engine. This change in the cut-off wi l of course affect alike the two sections 42 and 42 of the valve. It should of course be understood that the valve would rotate at the same speed asthe piston, and rotating continuous? in one direction the four openings of the; al've would cooperate successively with the dppositely-disposed steam-passages leading from the steam-chest to the cylinder. The rollers 64 should be of a diameter greater than oneutility of my invention, and 1. therefore re serve the right to make all such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims or of mechanical equivalents to the structures set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a. rotary engine, incombination, acylinder, the wall whereof is composed of a plurality of circumferential-ly-arranged rollers, and a rotatable piston having shoes adapted to rest against said rollers as said piston rotates.

2. In a rotary engine, in combination, a rotatable piston having shoes, a cylinder in which said piston is mounted, said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinally-disposed rollers which constitute the inner Wall thereof and are engaged by said shoes as said piston rotates, and other rollers disposed behind said first rollers, the surfaces whereof are in contact with the surfaces of said first rollers.

3. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder, the inner Wall whereof is composed of a plurality of longitudinally-disposed rollers, a rotatable piston mounted within said cylinder, and having shoes adapted to contact with the surfaces of said rollers, and outer rollers disposed behind said first rollers, the surfaces whereof contact with the surfaces of said first rollers, the wall of said cylinder having recesses adapted to receive the outer portion ofsaid outer rollers.

4:. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder, rings attached in the heads thereof, rollers mounted between said rings and constituting the inner wall of said cylinder, and

a rotary piston mounted in said cylinder, and

having shoes adapted .to engage the surfaces of said rollers.

5. In a rotary engine, in combination,acylinder, oppositely-disposed rings attached to the heads thereof, rollers carried therebetween and disposed eircumferentially so as to constitutethe inner wall of said cylinder, keepers disposed between said rollers, and attaching to said rings, and a rotary piston mounted within said cylinder, having shoes adapted to engage the-inner sides of said rollers.

6. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder, a pair of oppositely-disposed rings carried in the heads thereof, rollers mounted between said heads and constituting the inner wall of said cylinder, keepers disposed between said rollers, outer rollers disposed behind said first rollers and bearing against the rear sides thereof, said outer rollers having spindles, said rings having openings adapted to receive the extremities of said spindles, and a piston rotatably mounted within said cylinder and having shoes adapted to slide upon said first rollers.

7. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder having opposite heads, rings carried by the inner sides of said heads, said rings having notches in the inner edge thereof, rollers disposed between said rings and constituting the inner wall of said cylinder, keepers conforming substantially to the adjacent surfaces of said rollers, and having extremities received by said notches, outer rollers disposed behind said first rollers, the surfaces whereof contact with the surfaces of said first rollers, said rings having openings, said outer rollers having spindles received thereby, and a rotary piston mounted Within said cylinder, and having shoes resting upon said first rollers.

8. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder, a plurality of rollers constituting the inner wall of said cylinder, a rotary piston mounted within said cylinder and having shoes sliding upon said rollers, an abutment-plate mounted in the wall of said cylinder and cofirst rollers, and in contact therewith, said cylinder having oppositely-disposed inlet and outlet ports, and a packing-strip cooperating with one of said rollers substantially between said inlet-port and said abutment-plate.

9. In a rotary engine, a drum having a trans: verse opening therethrough, a piston mounted in said transverse opening, and comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed plates, rollers therebetween, packing-strips between said plates and said drum, and shoes carried by the extremities of said plates, said shoes being adapted to run upon the interior of the wall of the cylinder of said engine.

10. In a rotary engine, a drum, having a transverse opening therethrough, a piston mounted in said drum and comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed plates, packingstrips between said plates, packing-strips between said plates and saiddrum, rollers between said plates, and shoes carried by the extremities of said plates, said shoes being adapted to run upon the interior of the wall of the cylinder of said engine,

11. In a rotary engine, in combination, a drum having a transverse opening there-' through, a piston mounted in said opening, said piston comprising a pair of oppositelydisposed plates, said plates having enlargements constituting heads, said heads having transverse grooves therein, packing-strips mounted in said grooves between said plates,

tween said plates, roller-plates carried in the wall of said transverse opening, rollers carried by said plates, and bearing upon the rear face of said first plates, and shoes carried by the extremities of said head, said shoes being adapted to run upon the interior of the wall of the cylinder of said engine:

12. Ina rotary engine, in combination, a drum having a transverse opening therethrough, a piston mounted in said transverse opening, and comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, said plates having enlargements constituting heads, said heads having transverse grooves, packing-strips carried in said grooves between said plates, said heads -further having transverse channels, rollers carried in said channels, and lying between said plates, roller-plates carried in the wall of said transverse opening, and having longitudinally-disposed channels therein, rollers carried in said channels and bearing upon the rear sides of said first plates, said transverse opening having grooves near the periphery of said drum, packing-strips mounted in said grooves and resting against the rear sides of said first plates, and shoes carried by said heads, and adapted to run upon the interior of the wall of the cylinderxof said engine.

13. In a rotary engine, in combination, a

drum having a transverse opening therethrough, said opening having enlarged recesses in the walls thereof, roller-plates carried in said enlarged recesses, a piston mounted between said roller-plates, and comprising apair of oppositely-disposed plates,said roller-plates having channels therein disposed longitudinally with respect to said plates, rollers carried in said channels and rolling upon the rear face of said plates, packing-strips between said plates, said transverse opening having transversely-disposed grooves, packing-strips mounted therein and resting upon the rear face of said plates, and shoes carried by the extremities of said plates and adapted to run upon the interior of the wall of the cylinder of said engine.

14. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder having oppositely-disposed heads, ports formed in said heads, a piston rotatably mounted in said cylinder, and having shoes adapted to traverse said ports, said ports having bridges adapted to prevent the lateral movement of said shoes.

15. In a rotary engine, in combination, a cylinder having an inlet-port in the head thereof, a piston rotatably mounted in said cylinder, and"'adapted to traverse said port, said port being formed in sections, andmeans for admitting steam to said sections in succession.

16. In a rotary engine, in cembination, a cylinder having an inlet-port in the head thereof, said inlet-port, having a bridge dividing the same into sections, a rotary piston mounted within said cylinder, a shoe carried thereby 'adapted to-traverse said port, and means for admitting steam to said sections successively in the direction in which said shoe traver es said port.

17. In a rotary engine, in combinatioaa main head, cylinders attached to opposite sides of said head, valve-chests formed in said cylinders, valves mounted in said chests, inletports formed in said, heads and leading from said valve-chests to the interior of said cylinders, exhaust-ports formed in said heads, and exhaust-passages formed in the walls of said cylinders and connecting said exhaust-ports with the exhaust-pipe of said engine.

18. In a rotary engine, in combination, a main head, a pair of cylinders attached to opposite sides thereof, a valve-chest formed in the upper portion of one of said cylinders, a valve-chest formed in the lower portion of the other of said cylinders, ports formed in said main head connecting, said valve-chests with .the interiors of said cylinders, valves mounted in said' valve-chests, exhaust-ports formed in said heads, exhaust-passages formed in said cylinders, and connecting with said exhaustports, said exhaust-passages being adapted to lead the escaping steam througli the exhaustpipe of said engine.

19. In a rotary engine, in combination, a drum having a transverse opening with parallel transverse faces disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of said drifm, a piston mounted in said transverse opening, said piston comprising oppositelydisposed plates, shoes carried thereby, and pallets attached to said plates, the upper faces whereof rest against the said transverse faces of said drum, said plates being radially movable with respect to said drum 20. In a rotary engine, in combination, a drum having a transverse'opening presenting parallel faces disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of said drum, said parallel facesconstituting aguide, a piston mounted between said parallel faces, said piston com-- prising a pair of oppositely-disposed plates, said plates being disposed substantially parallel with the axis of said drum, pallets attached to the edges of said plates and resting their upper faces against said transverse faces of said drum, said plates having grooves, packing-strips mounted in said grooves between said plates, rollers carried between said plates, and shoes carried by the extremities of said plates.

21. In a rotary engine, in combination, a drum having a transverse opening presenting opposite transverse faces disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of said drum, a piston mounted in said transverse opening, said piston comprising a pair of oppositelydisposed plates, wristsformed at the extremities of said plates, shoes carried upon said wrists, pallets attached to the edges of said plates, the outer faces whereof rest against the said transverse faces of said drum, the upper extremities of said pallets conforming to,

'and constituting a Continuation of said wrists,

said shoes having sockets which receive the upper extremities of said pallets with said wrists.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 7 hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR GUINDON.

Witnesses:

J. A. MARION, T. Mi NARD. 

